SUMMER VACATION TIPS FOR HOME SAFETY

A few tips to help you head out on that summer vacation worry-free. Have a great trip!

 

 

TIPS FOR MOVING WITH CHILDREN

Moving can be a stressful time, especially for children. Here are just a few tips to make the transition a bit smoother.

PET FIRE SAFETY

Approximately 500,000 pets are affected annually by home fires. Keep your pets safe by following these tips.

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR LAWN

If you love your lawn, it's only natural that you would want to give it the proper care to help give it a healthy appearance. After all, your landscape is one of the first things that people will notice when they arrive at your home. Your lawn can either make or break your curb appeal.

Grooming

If you have weeds, remove them with the proper tools or by pulling them out of the ground manually. An important part of grooming your lawn is mowing it regularly to give it a manicured appearance.

Feed Your Lawn

Yes, even your yard gets hungry and what it craves more than anything is water. Most experts recommend that one thorough watering each week is preferable over a light misting every other day. When it comes to feeding your lawn, the best time of year to fertilize is during the spring. This is when your lawn begins to grow and its beautiful shade of green begins to come alive, which is why it's important to make sure that it has all of the nutrients that it needs to enjoy the warm months ahead.

Treating Bald Or Bare Spots

What happens when your lawn begins to dry out or shows signs of brown spots? It could mean a number of things, but treating it properly will help to get your yard sparkling again. One way of doing this is by planting seeds so that new grass can grow. Before doing this, make sure to loosen the soil so that the seeds will have a healthy start. Your other option is to bring in sod, which is commonly used for larger areas that are in need of a quick fix. Just as you would loosen the soil for seeding, it's important to do the same for sod so that it can properly attach to the surface of the lawn.

Pest Control

Your lawn is a reflection of your home, but it's also a potential haven for pests. It's important to pay close attention to the plants and/or flowers that you choose for your landscape as certain types can deter pests, while others may actually attract them. If in doubt, ask a local gardening expert or a representative at your local home improvement store for more information on this topic. If you develop a pest problem, there are products designed to protect your landscape and permanently rid the pests of your space.

SUMMERTIME CUTS AND SCRAPES: 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO HELP PREVENT INFECTION

(BPT) - Summer is a time to get the family back outside to play after a long winter of being stuck inside. Those outdoor adventures - for kids big and small - may also bring a few unexpected injuries. Parents never want to see their kids hurt, but when those minor cuts or scrapes do occur, it's important to know what to do - and what to use - to help prevent infection and get little ones back to their adventures.

"As parents, we want to protect our kids, especially when it comes to treating the minor cuts and scrapes that are an inevitable part of growing up," says Dr. Natasha Burgert, a pediatrician and healthy child advocate. "Knowing the correct way to treat a minor cut, scrape or burn, and the first aid treatment you should have on hand, can help you feel prepared to face the unpredictable."

Dr. Burgert stresses that parents need to be focused on prevention. "Infection prevention is priority number one in first aid. When your child gets hurt, your first line of defense is a topical antiseptic to protect against germs and help prevent infection," she notes.

Dr. Burgert says infection protection is easy with three simple steps:

Step 1: Clean the affected area

If there is any minor bleeding, get that under control first by applying gentle pressure with a clean tissue or cloth. Next, wash your hands to help prevent the spread of germs, and then gently clean the affected area. Make sure to remove any dirt, gravel or debris that may be stuck in the skin. Once the wound looks clean, you can begin treatment.

Step 2: Help prevent infection with a proper antiseptic, every time

It's important that you select the proper first aid product with the right ingredients; it's not one size fits all! A topical antiseptic like Betadine (which has been used in healthcare clinics and hospitals for decades to help prevent infections) is the first line of defense. After the minor wound is clean, apply Betadine to kill germs and help prevent infection. Its golden-brown color allows you to easily see where it has been applied and that it is working. Your child will be excited to show off their latest "battle wound" and you'll have peace of mind knowing you chose an antiseptic that supports healthy healing.

Step 3: Bandages to the rescue

Not all scrapes will require a bandage. However, if there is open skin of any kind, it's wise to keep it covered to reduce exposure to outside germs. Keep in mind, the psychology of a bandage can have a big impact on kids, so even if it might not be necessary, providing one could help calm nerves.

"Smart parents know that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," says Dr. Burgert. "Understanding what to do when your child gets a minor cut, scrape or burn, makes you feel confident that you are taking the steps necessary to help prevent infection. By cleaning the wound, applying an effective antiseptic and covering it with a bandage, you're taking the correct precautions to support healthy healing for your child."

Learn more about tips for caring for your children's minor "battle wounds" at www.betadine.com.

6 WAYS TO GET "S'MORE" OUTDOOR FUN DURING THE SHORT SUMMER SEASON

(BPT) - Now that summer is here, for many, it seems opportunities to savor those sun-drenched days and starry nights are all too limited. Events and activities are already stacking up on the calendar, and it's almost as if the season is over before it begins.

It's not just you who's feeling the summer squeeze. Four in five Americans (83%) agree summer passes by too quickly, according to a new survey commissioned by outdoor retailer L.L. Bean, and more than half of them feel they don't have time to truly enjoy it.

Before you know it, summer will be over. Make it your mission to get the most of those precious summer days by spending more time outside with your friends and family. With the help of these tips, you'll be well on your way to getting "s'more" out of summer!

Discover a new park - There are more than 400 national parks, monuments and recreation areas waiting to be explored. You might be surprised you have plenty of options to choose from close to home. To discover your next adventure, use the National Park Foundation's Find Your Park online tool.

Go camping - Few summer experiences can stir warm childhood memories quite like spending the night under the stars. Arranging a camping trip is easier than you might think. Book a site online at your favorite park. If your summer schedule doesn't allow a weekend getaway, just pitch a tent in the backyard.

Make a s'more - You can never go wrong with this gooey campfire dessert. For a fun twist, opt for variations of the classic chocolate bar. Peanut butter, coconut and caramel add delicious new flavors and textures. Tip: To avoid lighting it on fire, roast the marshmallow over the embers.

Host the games - Bring that element of playfulness to the backyard cookout and set up plenty of yard games, like bocce, beanbag toss and croquet. Or, as the sun goes down, end the gathering on a fun note with an exciting game of flashlight tag.

Dine al fresco - Food tastes better when it's eaten outdoors. Take the meal outside when you can, whether that means sipping your morning coffee while listening to the birds, taking your lunch break in the park, or having the family's evening meals on the patio.

Learn something new - Summer is the time to take up a new outdoor activity, whether it's fly-fishing, archery or hiking. To make it easy, try L.L.Bean's Outdoor Discovery Program, which offers demonstrations, clinics and hands-on courses for all levels for a variety of outdoor activities. Many of them are even free! Sign up at www.LLBean.com/discovery.

Continue to build our summer fun list with inspiration and tips from L.L. Bean's S'more Out of Summer Guide, now available online at www.SmoreOutofSummer.com. Or, Ask Alexa - just say, "S'more summer tips," and your Amazon device will have fun suggestions for getting the whole family outside.